Rula Graw wrote her bachelors thesis during the spring of 2025 as part of the Critical Physical Geography working group. Here is her abstract:
This research studies vegetation dynamics in the West Bank under ongoing occupation using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Using annual NDVI composites from 2017 to 2024, the NDVI change across Area A, B and C, areas with different control established during the Oslo agreements, were studied. The results show broadly uniform NDVI patterns across these zones, aside from a lower NDVI in 2017 attributable to drought. To isolate anthropogenic drivers of vegetation loss during the years 2018 – 2024, three case studies have been conducted: the settlements of Ariel (1) and Ibei Hanachal (2), and a segment of Road 60 (3). By combining NDVI-change rasters with true‐color (RGB) composites of Sentinel-2, localized decreases in vegetation were analyzed in relation to the horizontal expansion of Israeli settlements and road infrastructure. Impacts of anthropogenic expansion on the natural environment in the West Bank include destruction of productive agricultural land, contamination of downstream water resources by untreated wastewater, and the road expansions impacting the wildlife in the region.
While wide reaching NDVI patterns remain stable, large‐scale analyses reveal meaningful “green-to-grey” transitions driven by settlement expansions and road constructions. The study highlights the utility of remote sensing for conflict‐zone monitoring, while also noting limitations in detecting vertical urban expansion and species‐level vegetation change. To overcome these limitations in the future, incorporating very high resolution imagery and fieldwork can enhance the analysis. They can deepen understanding of land‐cover transformation, differentiate vegetation types and help to better understand the complex relation between spatial change, vegetation, and socio‐political processes under conditions of occupation.
The full thesis can be found here.
